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COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA FINAL FOUR
Coppa Italia Frecciarossa: everyone chasing Imoco, the holders…
TURIN – Everyone is chasing Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano, Coppa Italia holders and once again the benchmark team on the eve of the Final Four scheduled tomorrow at the Inalpi Arena. The Panthers arrive with a dominance that has lasted for years: the trophy has been in their cabinet for six consecutive seasons and, from 2019/20 onwards, the Veneto club has left no room for rivals.
The latest final was played on February 9, 2025 at the Unipol Arena in Casalecchio di Reno, where Conegliano swept Numia Vero Volley Milano 3–0. A final set on course by a solid team performance, with Haak top scorer on 21 and Gabi on 15, while Egonu’s 24 points were not enough for Milano.
This time, however, Milano will not be in the final: an absence that breaks an important streak, as the Lombard side had reached the last act in each of the past three seasons, without ever managing to end Conegliano’s hegemony.
The numbers underline Conegliano’s continuity: the club have won seven Coppa Italia titles overall (including those prior to the current cycle), a figure that weighs even more in recent history. Since 2016/17, Conegliano have always reached the final, building a constant path between the regular season and knockout matches.
In the overall balance, the Veneto club have so far recorded seven wins and two losses, with the only two finals lost to Igor Gorgonzola Novara: in 2017/18 and 2018/19, played respectively in Bologna and Verona.
THE LAST FINAL
February 9, 2025 – Unipol Arena, Casalecchio di Reno
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano – Numia Vero Volley Milano 3–0 (37–35, 25–20, 25–20)
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano: Braga Guimaraes 15, Fahr 9, Haak 21, Zhu 11, Chirichella 7, Wolosz 1, De Gennaro (L), Lukasik, Bardaro, Seki. Did not play: Eckl (L), Lanier, Adigwe, Lubian. Head coach: Santarelli.
Numia Vero Volley Milano: Daalderop 7, Heyrman 3, Orro 3, Sylla 8, Danesi 9, Egonu 24, Gelin (L), Pietrini 1, Kurtagic, Cazaute, Konstantinidou, Smrek. Did not play: Guidi, Fukudome (L). Head coach: Lavarini.
Referees: Zavater, Brunelli. Notes: Spectators: 9000. Set duration: 39’, 30’, 28’; Total: 97’. MVP: Haak.
TURIN – A few numbers on the A1 Frecciarossa Coppa Italia, which this weekend celebrates the Final Four at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
Most successful clubs (by club identity, regardless of sponsors)
Conegliano: 7 Coppa Italia titles (2016/17, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25).
Bergamo: 6 Coppa Italia titles (1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2015/16), under different names over time (Foppapedretti / Radio 105 / Norda).
Perugia: 5 Coppa Italia titles (1991/92, 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2006/07), also with different sponsors (Imet / Despar / Colussi).
Novara: 4 Coppa Italia titles (2003/04 as Asystel, then 2014/15, 2017/18, 2018/19 as Igor Gorgonzola).
Matera: 3 Coppa Italia titles, all in a row from 1992/93 to 1994/95.
Piacenza: 2 Coppa Italia titles (2012/13, 2013/14).
Villa Cortese: 2 Coppa Italia titles (2009/10, 2010/11).
Reggio Calabria: 2 Coppa Italia titles (1999/00, 2000/01).
One each for Ravenna (1990/91), Modena (2001/02), Pesaro (2008/09), Busto Arsizio (2011/12).
Final appearances: who got there the most
Looking at how many times a club reached the final (wins + losses), the standouts are:
Bergamo: 13 finals overall (record for appearances).
Conegliano: 9 finals (7 won, 2 lost—both vs Novara in 2017/18 and 2018/19).
Modena and Novara: 7 finals each.
Perugia: 6 finals.
In the most recent years, Milano have entered the story with consistency: three consecutive finals lost to Conegliano (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25).
Host cities: where the final has been played most
Among the most frequent venues:
Perugia hosted 4 finals.
Modena, Bergamo, Rimini and Bologna hosted 3 each.
Rome twice.
Then a long list of one-off venues (Matera, Reggio Calabria, Marsala, Venice, Jesi, Olbia, Prato, S. Lazzaro di Savena, Eboli, Catania, Varese, Villorba, Ravenna, Florence, Verona, Trieste).
How finals end: balance and tie-breaks
Across 35 finals overall:
15 ended 3–0
10 ended 3–1
10 went to 3–2 (tie-break)
The data show that straight-set finals remain frequent, but tie-breaks are not marginal: roughly one final out of three is decided in the fifth.
Coppa Italia A1 Frecciarossa
3:30 pm – Semifinals
Prosecco Doc A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano – Igor Gorgonzola Novara
Referees: Rossella Piana, Serena Salvati
TURIN – The semifinal between Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Prosecco Doc A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano comes within a rivalry already rich in numbers: 57 previous meetings overall, with 45 Conegliano wins and 12 for Novara. This season the two teams have already met both home and away in the league, with Veneto wins both times: 3–0 in Novara in the first match, and 3–1 in Conegliano in Round 5 of the second half, the most recent clash.
Historically, Novara and Conegliano have also crossed paths in multiple finals: the most recent was the 2022 Supercup, won by Conegliano 3–1, as already happened in the 2021 Supercup (again 3–1). In between: the 2021 Coppa Italia final decided at tie-break (3–2 Conegliano), the 2020 finals (Playoffs 3–1 Conegliano, Coppa Italia 3–1 Conegliano) and the double 2018 showdown, with Conegliano winning the Scudetto final in Game 3 (3–2) and Novara winning the 2018 Coppa Italia final 3–2—the last time the Piedmont side prevailed in a direct final against the Venetians.
Seasonal numbers: different profiles, small gaps
The two teams arrive with very close indicators across fundamentals. In the regular season, Novara and Conegliano have played 21 matches, but with a significant difference in sets played: 85 for Novara versus 76 for Conegliano, a figure reflecting a more “decisive” path for the Venetians.
Serving: similar aces, but Imoco more consistent
Aces are almost identical: 86 for Novara and 84 for Conegliano. The gap appears in average output: Conegliano are at 1.11 aces per set, Novara at 1.01. Service errors are also close, with 217 missed serves for Conegliano and 222 for Novara.
Reception: Novara higher on perfect passes, but Conegliano limit errors
Conegliano record 120 reception errors, Novara 149. Looking at percentages, however, Novara have a better “perfect” rate: 36.1% versus Conegliano’s 32.6%. Overall efficiency is also close: 0.27 for Novara and 0.24 for Conegliano.
Attack: Conegliano more efficient and less blocked
In attack, with nine more sets played, Novara have a higher total volume: 2,767 swings versus 2,518 for Conegliano. Errors are similar in absolute terms (141 Novara, 148 Conegliano), but the decisive figure is blocks suffered: Novara 176, Conegliano only 103.
Hitting percentage confirms the Veneto edge: Conegliano at 46.5%, Novara at 42.4%, despite very close numbers in attack points (1,173 for Novara, 1,170 for Conegliano). In short: the Panthers are more efficient and harder to “read” at the block, while Novara work with higher volume and heavier workload.
Block: identical average
At the block, the data remain tight: 173 for Novara, 155 for Conegliano, but the per-set average is the same for both: 2.04 per set. A fundamental that doesn’t create a clear gap and may matter more in momentum management than in structural comparison.
Individuals: Haak leads the charts, De Gennaro a reception reference
Individually, Conegliano bring the highest presence in the main rankings. Isabelle Haak has 349 points, eighth among the league scorers, while Novara’s top scorer is Tatiana Tolok with 267 points, 18th overall.
At the block, neither team features consistently at the very top: the first among the semifinalists is Sara Bonifacio with 34 kill blocks (16th), while Conegliano have no players in the top 20.
Serving returns the balance: Haak is 10th with 21 aces, Tolok 18th with 16.
In reception, Conegliano have the league benchmark: Monica De Gennaro is 4th for perfect reception at 39.78%. Novara answer with Mayu Ishikawa, 6th at 38.36%, while Conegliano follow immediately with Gabi, 7th at 38.3%. Also among the best is Novara libero Giulia Denardi, 11th at 36.67%.
Final read: a semifinal decided by details
The numbers point to an overall balanced semifinal, with some clear lines: Conegliano arrive with greater attacking efficiency and, above all, a stronger ability to limit blocks suffered, while Novara show higher game volume and strong “perfect reception” percentages. Statistically, it’s a match likely to revolve around side-out quality and key-moment management.
Coppa Italia A1 Frecciarossa
6:00 pm – Semifinals
Savino Del Bene Scandicci – Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76
Referees: Stefano Cesare and Luca Saltalippi
TURIN – The second Coppa Italia Frecciarossa semifinal pits Savino Del Bene Scandicci against Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76, two teams reaching the Final Four with a very similar path in A1 Tigotà in terms of matches played, but with technical data pointing to different approaches. In the league, both have played 21 matches, with a minimal difference in sets: 74 for Scandicci and 76 for Chieri, the same total recorded by Conegliano, while Scandicci are the team in the quartet with the fewest sets played.
[Ognjenovic and Antropova]
Points and serving: Scandicci push, Chieri chase
Overall points are also close, though with a margin in Chieri’s favour: 1,314 for Scandicci and 1,396 for Chieri. The picture changes when serving is considered, where Scandicci show one of the most incisive profiles among the four semifinalists. They have 105 aces—the best figure in the group—versus Chieri’s 78, the lowest among the semifinalists in this fundamental.
The gap widens when errors are counted: Scandicci stop at 185 missed serves, Chieri rise to 259—a difference that impacts risk management and break-point continuity. Average output confirms the trend: 1.42 aces per set for Scandicci, 1.03 for Chieri.
[Caterina Bosetti in reception]
Reception: Scandicci ahead in output
On reception, the statistical margin is clear: Scandicci register 73.8% perfect reception, versus 29.7% for Chieri. A figure that, in reading the semifinal, matters because it reflects higher quality on first contact and therefore a more stable chain into side-out and offensive construction.
Attack: higher efficiency for Scandicci
In attack, Scandicci also post better percentages: 47.6% versus 44.2% for Chieri. An advantage that doesn’t overturn the overall balance, but helps define a match where the quality of offensive output and the ability to score on “messy” balls can make the difference.
Block: the “best blocking” semifinal
The block is the stat that brings the two teams closest and makes this clash—numbers in hand—the most solid of the quartet defensively. Chieri record 130 kill blocks, Scandicci 113, with per-set averages respectively of 2.32 and 2.49 blocks per set. It’s a head-to-head between two teams that have built much of their season on this fundamental, and could swing momentum in key moments with sequences of reads and counterattacks.
Leaders and individual rankings: Antropova and Németh, two stars
Individually, the two main offensive references stand out immediately. Ekaterina Antropova is the league’s second top scorer with 390 points, while Chieri’s leader is Anett Németh (photo), fourth with 371. The top 20 also include Stella Nervini (Chieri), 15th with 297 points, while no other Scandicci players appear in the top 20.
At the block, Antropova appears again, leading her own numbers with 52 kill blocks. For Chieri, Anna Gray is third with 47 blocks, and Anastasia Cekulaev seventh with 42.
On serve, Antropova also leads the aces chart with 37 direct points. Scandicci answer with Camilla Weitzel, fourth with 29, while Chieri place Laura Künzler sixth with 26 and Németh 15th with 17.
In reception, among the best appears Ilaria Spirito (Chieri), eighth at 37.54% perfect reception.
Head-to-heads: only in the regular season. Scandicci on top
In terms of direct clashes, Scandicci–Chieri is a young rivalry compared to the other semifinal. There are 15 previous meetings, with 13 Scandicci wins and 2 for Chieri. A significant figure, with one key detail: until now the teams have met only in the regular season, with no previous meetings in playoffs, Coppa Italia, Supercup or trophy finals.
Final read: serve and block as the keys
The semifinal comes with some strong indications: Scandicci arrive with a more incisive serving package and better reception and attack percentages, while Chieri have important blocking numbers and an attacking pair high in the individual rankings. In match logic, break point—between serve and block—looks like the ground where momentum can truly change.
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Champions League: top scorers after 3 matchdays. Dermaux, Mujanovic and Kollator lead the list — all headed to SuperLega 2026/27
MODENA – The first 15 top scorers in the men’s Champions League after three matchdays (midpoint of the 4th group phase) also reveal a transfer-market curiosity: the top three are players who will be in SuperLega next season. Belgian Basil Dermaux, heading to Milano, Slovenian Nik Mujanovic, destined for Modena, and Czech David Kollator, bound for Perugia as Reggers’ backup.
Top scorer
1° Basil Dermaux (Knack Roeselare) 94 points (15 sets), 6.27 points/set
2° Nik Mujanovic (Tours VB) 65 points (11 sets), 5.91 points/set
3° David Kollator (VK Lvi Praha) 64 points (14 sets), 4.57 points/set
4° Francisco Wallyson Bezerra Souza (Guaguas Las Palmas) 63 points (13 sets), 4.85 points/set
5° Stephen Timothy Maar (Galatasaray HDI Istanbul) 63 points (14 sets), 4.50 points/set
6° Nimir Abdel-Aziz (Ziraat Bankkart Ankara) 60 points (10 sets), 6.00 points/set
7° Wilfredo Leon Venero (Bogdanka LUK Lublin) 56 points (12 sets), 4.67 points/set
8° Toncek Stern (ACH Volley Ljubljana) 55 points (9 sets), 6.11 points/set
9° Jake Hanes (Berlin Recycling Volleys) 53 points (11 sets), 4.82 points/set
10° Alessandro Michieletto (Trentino Itas) 51 points (10 sets), 5.10 points/set
11° Théo Faure (Trentino Itas) 50 points (10 sets), 5.00 points/set
12° Yoandy Leal Hidalgo (Halkbank Ankara) 49 points (13 sets), 3.77 points/set
13° Karol Butryn (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów) 46 points (7 sets), 6.57 points/set
14° Ezequiel Palacios (Montpellier HSC VB) 46 points (11 sets), 4.18 points/set
15° Aaron Joseph Russell (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie) 45 points (10 sets), 4.50 points/set
16° Matey Kaziyski (Halkbank Ankara) 44 points (13 sets), 3.38 points/set
17° Jiri Benda (VK Lvi Praha) 44 points (13 sets), 3.38 points/set
18° Tomasz Fornal (Ziraat Bankkart Ankara) 43 points (10 sets), 4.30 points/set
19° Erik Siksna (Knack Roeselare) 42 points (15 sets), 2.80 points/set
20° Wassim Ben Tara (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia) 40 points (8 sets), 5.00 points/set.
Best Blocker (kill blocks)
1° Yurii Semeniuk (PGE Projekt Warszawa) 11 kill blocks (11 sets), 1.00 blocks/set
2° Ahmet Tümer (Galatasaray HDI Istanbul) 11 kill blocks (14 sets), 0.79 blocks/set
3° Tomasz Fornal (Ziraat Bankkart Ankara) 8 kill blocks (10 sets), 0.80 blocks/set
4° Quentin Jouffroy (Montpellier HSC VB) 8 kill blocks (11 sets), 0.73 blocks/set
5° Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia) 8 kill blocks (12 sets), 0.67 blocks/set
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SUPERLEGA
Trento: Michieletto to miss Perugia, out with lower-back strain
TRENTO – Itas Trentino will be without Alessandro Michieletto for Sunday’s away match in Perugia, valid for Round 18 of SuperLega. The outside hitter has felt a lower-back strain in the last few hours and, in agreement with the medical staff, will remain in Trento to follow an индивидуализирован program with the goal of returning at full fitness ahead of the many matches in February.
The physical issues had already surfaced in the last league match: against Milano, Michieletto played wearing a visible lumbar belt under his jersey, a sign the back problem was already being carefully managed.
SuperLega Credem Banca: derby and big matches in Round 18, Modena–Piacenza opens on Rai Sport
MODENA – After European cups, SuperLega Credem Banca returns this weekend for Round 18 (7th of the second half). Opening the programme tonight (9:00 pm, Rai Sport) is the Via Emilia derby at PalaPanini between Valsa Group Modena and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, the 24th chapter of the rivalry and the third meeting this season after league and Coppa Italia.
On Sunday at 4:00 pm at Allianz Cloud, it’s Allianz Milano – Cucine Lube Civitanova, while at 6:00 pm the schedule features Cuneo–Monza, Grottazzolina–Padova and Cisterna–Verona. The slate closes with the big match Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Itas Trentino, live on Rai Sport. Before each match, a minute’s silence will be observed in memory of Luciano Gaspari.
Modena–Piacenza: fourth place at stake, a derby worth double
All eyes on PalaPanini for a clash directly impacting the top zone: Piacenza have climbed into fourth with a 3–0 over Grottazzolina, taking advantage of Modena’s slip in Monza, and arrive confident after winning the first leg of the CEV Cup Round of 16 in Soria. Modena are now one point behind and seek to move back ahead. The two meetings this season have been split: regular-season win for Modena at PalaBancaSport, then Piacenza’s four-set win in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. Overall, Piacenza lead the series 12–11.
Among the match storylines are three former Modena players now in Piacenza: Josè Miguel Gutierrez, Paolo Porro and Dragan Travica. Gutierrez is close to his 100th SuperLega match; Porro is nearing ace no. 200 in the top flight. For Modena, Paul Buchegger is 21 points away from 2,500 in regular seasons, while Jacopo Massari is chasing his 100th career block.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 23 (11 Valsa Group Modena wins, 12 Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza wins)
EX: Gutierrez in Modena (2024/25); Porro in Modena (2020/21); Travica in Modena (2003/04, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2016/17)
Vlad Davyskiba (Valsa Group Modena): "We look ahead after the loss to Monza and focus on Piacenza, an opponent to face in the best possible way. What matters is to keep working at maximum intensity every day in training. The goal is to reach fourth place to take advantage of home court in the Play Offs. We’re ready to fight."
Paolo Porro (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza): "After the long CEV Cup trip, we have a really tough match ahead. In Modena the atmosphere is very hot and fourth place is on the line. I expect a match where details can make the difference, as well as the serve. We’re in a good moment, we’re facing a very good team and they’re showing it match after match. Playing in Modena’s arena isn’t easy for anyone. It will be the third time we face each other this season; Modena won once and we won once. We’re ready — I think it will be a nice and entertaining match."
Milano–Lube: chasing and bombers head-to-head at Allianz Cloud
Sunday at 4:00 pm sees seventh vs sixth, separated by three points. Both come off a league loss (Milano 0–3 in Trento, Lube 1–3 at home vs Perugia) and an immediate European response: Allianz in Challenge Cup in Belgrade, Civitanova in Champions League in Warsaw. It’s meeting no. 36: overall, Lube lead 26–9, including the tie-break win in the first leg.
Milano also look at individual milestones: Ferre Reggers and Gabriele Di Martino are close to multiple marks. For Lube, Nikolov, Bottolo and Loeppky chase their “round numbers”.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 35 (26 Cucine Lube Civitanova wins, 9 Allianz Milano wins)
The other 6:00 pm matches: playoff race and survival battle
MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo – Vero Volley Monza brings heavy points for the playoff grid as well, on the day of Thomas Beretta’s 400th SuperLega match and Leandro Mosca’s 200th regular-season appearance. Cuneo look to catch up with a full win; Monza, reinvigorated by the 3–0 over Modena, aim for continuity. Former Cuneo player Marko Sedlacek will not be available, no longer registered with Cuneo and now at Olympiakos Piraeus.
Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina – Sonepar Padova is a crucial junction at the bottom: Grottazzolina, last, must try to reopen the survival race; Padova, ninth, can also eye jumping Monza with the right combination. Milestones: Fedrizzi is 2 aces from 400 in regular season; Masulovic is 16 points from 300 this season; Gardini is close to 1,000 regular-season attack points.
Cisterna Volley – Rana Verona sees the Pontini, second from bottom but +7 from the foot of the table, trying to break a taboo: 7 meetings and 7 Verona wins. Aleksandar Nedeljkovic returns as an opponent after two seasons as a fan favourite locally.
Perugia–Trento: the big match with Michieletto out
League leaders Sir Susa Scai Perugia host Itas Trentino in meeting no. 59, with many ex-players on court and one heavy absence: Alessandro Michieletto will miss out due to the lower-back strain. Perugia are 2 points ahead of Verona and 5 ahead of Trento; a full Trento win would reopen the title race. In the overall series Perugia lead 32–26, but Trento won the first leg.
Massimo Colaci (Sir Susa Scai Perugia): "It’s an important, beautiful and difficult match against an opponent that is always very complicated to face and has great quality. Every point will be hard to win, as it should be when you play a strong team like Trento. I expect many long rallies."
Gabriele Laurenzano (Itas Trentino): "It’s a very difficult appointment on the court of the team top of the table, World and European Champions. We’ll play it at the end of an intense week, but we learned useful lessons from the recent losses to Verona and Modena and we’ll give our maximum to get a positive result that boosts our ambitions in the standings."
Round 18 – Regular Season, SuperLega Credem Banca
Saturday, January 24, 2026
9:00 pm Valsa Group Modena – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Referees: Luciani Ubaldo, Brunelli Michele (Lambertini Alessio)
Live on Rai Sport
Sunday, January 25, 2026
4:00 pm Allianz Milano – Cucine Lube Civitanova
Referees: Giardini Massimiliano, Zanussi Umberto (Cecconato Luca)
6:00 pm MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo – Vero Volley Monza
Referees: Vagni Ilaria, Lot Dominga (Venturi Giuliano)
6:00 pm Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina – Sonepar Padova
Referees: Simbari Armando, Pozzato Andrea (Merli Maurizio)
6:00 pm Cisterna Volley – Rana Verona
Referees: Canessa Maurizio, Brancati Rocco (Gasparro Mariano)
6:00 pm Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Itas Trentino
Referees: Zavater Marco, Carcione Vincenzo (Adamo Giorgia)
Live on Rai Sport (match start on RaiPlay)
SuperLega Credem Banca standings
Sir Susa Scai Perugia 44, Rana Verona 42, Itas Trentino 39, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 35, Valsa Group Modena 34, Cucine Lube Civitanova 31, Allianz Milano 26, Vero Volley Monza 15, Sonepar Padova 13, MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo 12, Cisterna Volley 11, Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina 4.>
Milano: Allianz Milano–Lube, Reggers vs Nikolov. A “big Sunday” at Allianz Cloud
MILAN – Five matches left in the regular season and a table that now “cuts” the league in two. Allianz Milano are seventh, the last of the “big” group, and on Sunday at 4:00 pm at Allianz Cloud they host Cucine Lube Civitanova, sixth on 31 points: a matchup that matters for the playoff grid and features a team capable of changing face from one week to the next, already winners of the Del Monte Coppa Italia and Scudetto finalists last season.
The technical script is clear: Piazza vs Medei, but above all Reggers vs Nikolov. The two 2003-born opposites are first and second in the league scoring charts, and the duel between “next-generation” go-to scorers is a ticket by itself. In the first meeting at Eurosuole Forum, it ended in a tie-break with the Marche side prevailing; Milano look to level the season series in front of their crowd.
In the first clash this season, Nikolov was missing due to suspension, but Lube still found big points from Loeppky (23), Bottolo (20) and also Poriya, who is no longer with the club. On the other side, Allianz remain in emergency on the wings: with Rotty and Otsuka out, the Italian pair Recine–Ichino again carry reception and attack duties from Zone 4, with a weight that always shows in top matches.
Both teams come off a league defeat: Civitanova lost at home to Perugia, Milano left Trento empty-handed. And yet the numbers suggest opportunity: Milano haven’t beaten a “big” since October 20 (3–2 vs Modena), while Lube have won only two away matches so far, at Cuneo and Grottazzolina—signs that make the Cloud clash more open than the standings suggest.
Curiously, the schedule puts the two teams on near-parallel tracks: Civitanova still have Verona and Modena, key steps for the top grid, then Cisterna and Monza; Milano will face Modena away and Verona at home, then Monza and Cuneo. In between, Europe: Allianz Milano in Challenge Cup have not dropped a set and come off a win in Belgrade against Red Star; on Tuesday, January 27 at 8:30 pm at Allianz Cloud, the Round of 16 return leg requires two sets to qualify. Lube’s Champions League campaign has also been perfect: three wins out of three, all in straight sets, including the latest in Warsaw against PGE Projekt.
There are 35 previous meetings: 26 Lube wins, 9 Milano. No ex-players on the day, though Francesco Recine came through the youth ranks of the then Pallavolo Lube Macerata, where his father Stefano worked for a long time. In terms of milestones, Reggers is 19 attack points away from 300 in regular season and 13 points from 1,500 in his career; Recine is 9 away from 200. For Lube, Bottolo is 4 from 200 in the league, Gargiulo 7 attack points from 100, and Nikolov is 19 away from his 300th attack point of the season across all competitions.
To preview the match, Tommaso Ichino said: "Against Lube I expect a match that’s certainly complicated, but also very electrifying. We face a team ahead of us in the standings, with great quality and experience, so we’ll need a high-level performance. Despite all the problems we’ve faced so far, we feel we grow a little more every day, both technically and as a group. We’re aware of the difficulties, but we’ll go on court with the right mentality and give our maximum on every ball."
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Civitanova: Beppe Cormio, “Lube don’t need confirmation anymore — what we need are league points!”
CIVITANOVA – Beppe Cormio, general manager of Lube Volley, back from the straight-sets win in Warsaw in Pool E matchday 3, takes stock of Cucine Lube Civitanova’s moment in Champions League and in SuperLega Credem Banca.
Beppe Cormio, what can the team take from the great win at PGE Projekt Warsaw?
“We’re encouraged after this good success in the Champions League group stage, but I don’t think the team needs confirmation to become aware of its value; Lube know they have great potential. In a very busy period of the season we’ve already put one foot into the next phase of the continental tournament. It will be important, however, to confirm first place in Pool E to skip the playoff round. You can talk about a confidence boost because the performance came away from home, and so far we’ve struggled a lot on the road, while in Poland we won well.” Beppe Cormio
Now attention turns to the league — what kind of trip will it be in Milan?
“On Sunday we’ll play at Allianz Cloud, against another team that, like us, has higher ambitions in the standings. Our opponents have been unlucky with injuries since the start of the season. Not only did they have to do without their starting setter in the first three rounds, but they also had physical issues with their outside hitters, on the eve of and during the tournament. The next one is a key match for both teams: they have the advantage of playing at home; we have to break the away taboo in a direct league clash.” Beppe Cormio
Two demanding away fixtures come close together.
“Indeed, within a week we’ll go both to Milan and to Verona. If we were to lose at Allianz Cloud it would be a big blow, a result with a negative impact on our table, while we want to take three points in Lombardy and then try to do our maximum in a tough arena like Verona, where even a partially positive result could be acceptable.” Beppe Cormio
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TRANSFER MARKET
Conegliano: De Gennaro a Panther forever. “Moki” renews on the eve of Coppa Italia
CONEGLIANO – On the eve of the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final Four, also to put an end to rumours spread “by design” on Italian and foreign social media, Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley Conegliano announced the renewal of Monica De Gennaro for next season. The 39-year-old libero has worn the Panthers’ jersey since 2013 and was recently named World’s Best Player 2025: with Conegliano she has won all 29 trophies in the club’s history, becoming a symbol and technical reference.
De Gennaro explained: “I decided to continue — as long as I’m having fun and my body allows me, I’ll keep going, and I’m happy to announce that next year too I’ll be a Panther. After so many years here, this is home; I can’t see myself wearing other colours. I’ll give all of myself next season too, as I’ve done for a long time for this shirt. I love this environment and our fantastic fans; my teammates and I are lucky to work and live in a club that supports us and has big ambitions for the coming years — the same ambitions I have. I still have great motivation and a strong desire to have fun with ‘my’ Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley shirt.” Monica De Gennaro
Co-president Pietro Maschio also underlined the value of the decision: “We are on the eve of Coppa Italia and, also to send a strong signal of continuity, today we announce the renewal of our symbol-player, Monica De Gennaro. A fantastic player and a special person who has been with us from the beginning; she is the pivot of our team and an example for her teammates, a protagonist of all our victories and all the most important moments of our history. As long as she wants, she will be a Panther; every year she decides whether to continue, and having her with us on court next year too is a guarantee of excellence. Monica is more than a player for us — she is part of our family.” Pietro Maschio
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AWARD
Monica De Gennaro is the 2025 Volleyball Player of the Year. First place with both the journalists’ jury and the Volleyball.it+ public
MODENA – Monica De Gennaro is the 2025 Volleyball Player of the Year. After being elected World’s Best Player 2025 by Volleyball World, the Imoco Conegliano libero confirms herself in Italy as an absolute reference, winning for the second time—after the 2023 edition—the annual award promoted by Volleyball.it+ through the combined vote of a specialised jury and the public.
The final ranking comes from the sum of points awarded by the “quality jury”, composed of fifteen national volleyball journalists, and the preferences expressed by subscribers through the official poll published on Volleyball.it+. A system that values both the technical competence of those who cover volleyball every day and the direct participation of the app community.
De Gennaro finished first in both rankings, totalling 104 points overall: 94 points from the journalists’ jury, plus the maximum score in the popular vote on the app, confirming the unanimity of consensus.
Behind her are Paola Egonu and Alessia Orro, once again protagonists of a top-level season. Egonu, Italy’s opposite and Olympic and world champion, placed second with the journalists and fifth in the public vote, reaching 75 points overall, tied with Orro, Italy’s setter now at Fenerbahçe after the start of the 2025 season with Vero Volley Milano: she scored 68 jury points (third) and finished second in the popular poll, closing in on the top.
Fourth place goes to Ekaterina Antropova, Scandicci’s opposite and now a central name in Italy’s dynamics: she finished with 72 points, only three behind Orro and four behind Egonu. Also in the upper tier are Myriam Sylla in fifth, followed by other athletes who received votes across jury and app: Sarah Fahr, Anna Danesi and Stella Nervini.
With this result, Monica De Gennaro returns to the top of Italian volleyball and will be awarded the official Volleyball.it+ trophy, renewing a recognition that blends merit, continuity and real impact on and off the court.
MODENA – The poll for Italy’s 2025 Volleyball Player of the Year was open to 14 national-team players, protagonists of a historic season closed with two titles: the Volleyball Nations League and the World Championship. A group that marked the year not only in the Italy jersey but also at club level, because for some the season was particularly significant in terms of domestic and international trophies.
That is the case, for example, of Conegliano’s national-team players, who added Coppa Italia, Scudetto and Champions League to their Italy successes. And there is also the story of Ekaterina Antropova, Scandicci’s opposite, who alongside Italy’s titles ended 2025 by winning the Club World Championship, completing a top-level season finale.
Double vote
The rules used the same criteria for both votes: the jury of 15 journalists and the vote cast via the poll. Each juror indicated five names, awarding 10 points to the first choice, 7 to the second, 5 to the third, 3 to the fourth and 1 to the fifth. The public vote followed the same mechanism: 10 points to the poll winner, 7 to second, 5 to third, 3 to fourth and 1 to fifth. The sum of the two “weights” determined the final ranking.
The outcome rewarded Monica De Gennaro, who collected 94 points from the journalists’ jury and 10 points from the readers’ poll, closing on 104 overall. Below is the recap of votes and positions.
TOTALS
Player | Jury points | Poll points | Total
De Gennaro | 94 | 10 | 104
Egonu | 74 | 1 | 75
Orro | 68 | 7 | 75
Antropova | 67 | 5 | 72
Sylla | 50 | 3 | 53
Fahr | 21 | 0 | 21
Danesi | 14 | 0 | 14
Nervini | 2 | 0 | 2
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FIPAV PROJECT
FIPAV–CNI: path begins toward a protocol on modern, sustainable gyms
ROME – The Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) and the National Council of Engineers (CNI) have opened a working table to develop a collaboration protocol with a clear goal: to promote the creation of modern, safe and sustainable gyms serving local communities.
This was the message that emerged from the morning meeting at CNI headquarters, with CNI President Angelo Domenico Perrini and FIPAV President Giuseppe Manfredi.
At the centre of the discussion was grassroots sports infrastructure and the desire to develop joint activities, starting from a federal project aimed at financing interventions for gyms dedicated to volleyball practice—structures designed in compliance with regulations and technical and sporting standards, with attention to performance and usability, but also construction and management costs.
In detail, the vision is for facilities designed with high levels of safety, durable materials, environmental sustainability and efficient systems, using renewable sources and coherent landscape integration. Manfredi said: "Volleyball is a sport deeply rooted in local communities and it needs modern, safe and sustainable facilities," highlighting the added value of CNI’s technical expertise to "ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability of the works." Giuseppe Manfredi
On the same line, Perrini stressed the social function of engineering applied to sport: "Putting the skills of Italian engineers at the service of sport means investing in safety, sustainability and the growth of communities," describing the collaboration with FIPAV as a model synergy between institutions and the sports world. Angelo Domenico Perrini
The protocol, still being defined, could also open the door to other shared initiatives, including collaboration on the second National Day on sports infrastructure, already scheduled by CNI for the first ten days of June 2026, as a forum for discussion on design, management and innovation in infrastructure.
The meeting therefore marks the start of a path aimed at connecting sport, technical expertise and sustainability, with the objective of offering communities functional facilities capable of generating long-term value.
